It is hard to believe a hyrax and an elephant are cousins. One weighs 4 kilograms; the other weighs 6,000. But if you look at their teeth and toes, scientists can see they shared an ancestor millions of years ago. Hyraxes even have tiny tusks - just two little sticking-out front teeth, like a mini elephant.
Hyraxes are great climbers. The bottoms of their feet are spongy and slightly damp, almost like little suction cups, so they can grip steep rocks without slipping. You will see them scampering up sheer cliffs that no goat or human would dare try.
They live in colonies of up to 50. One adult always sits on a high lookout rock while the others feed. If a hawk, a fox or a hyena gets near, the lookout makes a loud whistle and the whole colony dives into cracks in the rocks. Less than a second later, the hillside is empty.
Hyraxes love sunshine. On a cool morning, you will often see them all sitting in the same direction, facing the sun like little furry solar panels. They warm up first, then start their day of nibbling leaves, herbs and the occasional wild fruit.